News

Sports Barrister Graham Gilbert has represented the BHA in a disciplinary panel involving Rebecca Bastiman, following her horse Big Red being administered a Prohibited Substance. For more information on the hearing, please click here.

Sports Barrister Graham Gilbert has represented the BHA twice in disciplinary panels involving trainer Dean Ivory. The disciplinary panel in Dean Ivory - Links Drive Lady concerned the cross-contamination of the horse with hayfever medicine, as a result of contacts between the horse and her keepers, who were using hayfever medicine to alleviate their symptoms at the time. The disciplinary panel in Dean Ivory - Wotadoll involved the cross-contamination of Wotadoll with O-desmethyltramadol, a metabolite of tramadol which...

In his latest article for LawInSport, sports barrister Graham Gilbert reflects back on the British & Irish Lions' recent Tour of New Zealand and  the sending of All Black Centre Sonny Bill Williams in the second test: should cross code conduct be considered in mitigation in rugby disciplinary cases? Please click here to read Graham's analysis.  

3PB head of sports Louis Weston and sports barrister Gemma White have written an article for LawInSport calling for a unified approach to sanctions for corruption offences across sports disciplines. While the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has well known codified sanctions for doping violations, there is no consistency of punishment between sports for players or participants who breach anti-corruption or betting rules. Louis and Gemma's article examines the extent of the disparities, the reasons...

Hamish Dunlop, Head of 3PB’s Family Law Group, led by Nigel Dyer QC, and instructed by Hughes Paddison of Cheltenham, has represented the respondent Hugh Owens in the groundbreaking Owens v Owens divorce case. The Court of Appeal earlier ruled that the appellant Tini Owens would not be granted a divorce despite an unhappy relationship. The Court refused to overturn the trial Judge’s finding that the respondent’s behaviour had been tantamount to ‘minor altercations of...

Nicola Frost, writing for Family Law Week, explains the implications of a Hague Convention decision. The CA unanimously held, "anticipatory retention" is a concept that must be recognised by the Convention. By a 2:1 majority (Black LJ dissenting on this particular point) it was further held that "communication" of an intention to retain children (prior to the end of an agreed, extended stay) is not necessary. As such, the mother's conduct surrounding an application for British...

In a review authored by Dr Ashley Bowes, the Journal of Planning and Environment Law has positively commented on “Restrictions on the Use of Land”, William Webster and Robert Weatherley’s planning law reference book. Click here to read the review. Published by Wildy, Simmonds & Hill the book covers the law and practice in a number of fields which impact the use of land and there is considerable focus on remedies for the infringement of rights...

3PB Employment barrister Sarah Bowen reviews the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in R (on the application of UNISON) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51 that Tribunal fees are unlawful and discriminatory and considers what might happen next!

Louis Weston acted for Patricia Annon in her successful appeal against a decision of the NMC’s Conduct and Competence Committee to strike her from the Register. The Court allowed the appeal on the grounds that to strike off a midwife who had a condition precedent to her return to practice that she was actively seeking to comply with was unjustified. Importantly the Court indicated obiter that the Committee in future should set a long stop...

Louis Weston, head of the Sports Group, had a busy July acting for the WPBSA in the prosecution of former world number 2, Stuart Bingham (judgment reserved), the Turf Club, in the successful prosecution of Trainer Luke Comer, the GBGB in the successful prosecution of Nick Wileman, and the BHA in a race fixing case (judgment reserved).

Louis Weston, head of the Sports Group, acted for the BHA (leading Caoimhe Daly, of QEB) in the prosecution of jockey Carter and the trainer Wainwright and others in the alleged race fixing of the rise of BLAZEOFENCHANTMENT for the full coverage see The Guardian and The Racing Post.  

On 18th July, Head of 3PB's Professional Disciplinary Group Sunyana Sharma, Lachlan Wilson and Shruti Sharma, all members of 3PB's Public and Regulatory group provided professional disciplinary training to DWF solicitors. The update covered: Professional discipline: general procedural guidance, strategy and tactics - by Sunyana Sharma Dishonesty: the test used by disciplinary panels and advising clients in the context of dishonesty allegations - by Shruti Sharma A focus on nurseries, childminders, OFSTED and Wales - by Lachlan Wilson. To...